Wiltshire Council gives go-ahead for large Poulshot solar farm

Despite concerns among locals and environmental campaigners at the growing number of solar farms proposed in the area, Wiltshire Council planning officers have given the scheme the go-ahead.

The 80 acre solar farm will be built on four arable fields at Poulshot Lodge Farm, leased from farmer Tim Hues for a period of 25 years, whose family has farmed animals there for 47 years and will continue to do so.

The ground mounted panels will be arranged in long rows and will generate about 15 megawatts of electricity a year, enough to power about 4,600 homes. The energy will be fed directly into the National Grid.

The council received 57 letters of objection and two petitions, one with 45 names and the other with 300, and 70 letters of support.

Those against the solar farm said the panels would look unsightly and, combined with other solar park applications, would swamp the area within five miles of Seend.

Supporters of the scheme say solar was the best option for energy generation and would help Mr Hues to diversify his business.

No objections were received from Poulshot or Seend parish councils.

The applicant, Hive Energy, revised the scheme following concerns raised by Wiltshire Council’s landscape and design officer that the solar panels would be highly visible.

Planning officers concede that the panels will still be prominent from footpaths leading to and from Seend and from farmsteads on the opposite side of the valley.

However, they believe this impact must be balanced by the benefits of a renewable energy scheme and granted permission under delegated powers yesterday.

Planning officer Morgan Jones says in a report: “The proposed development would make a significant contribution towards Wiltshire’s renewable energy target (it would increase energy generation in Wiltshire by over ten per cent) and as such, on balance, it is considered that the overall environmental benefits associated with the proposal outweigh any adverse impacts.”

Comments

Physicist Boy
1:04pm Sun 2 Mar 14

15 mega watts per year of electricity is meaning less. A mega watt is a unit of power, which is the rate of production of energy in millions of joules per second. A joule is a unit of energy. The amount of electrical energy produced in a year will be dependent on how much light energy falls on the solar panels. When it is dark the panels produce nothing, of course. The amount of energy produced increases as the light level increased. !5 mega watts will be the maximum rate of energy production. This will light 150,000 old style 100 watt tungsten light bulbs. Not a lot, in the scheme of things. Let's hope we will be able to grow enough food for ourselves as farm land gets covered with solar farms.

15 mega watts per year of electricity is meaning less. A mega watt is a unit of power, which is the rate of production of energy in millions of joules per second. A joule is a unit of energy. The amount of electrical energy produced in a year will be dependent on how much light energy falls on the solar panels. When it is dark the panels produce nothing, of course. The amount of energy produced increases as the light level increased. !5 mega watts will be the maximum rate of energy production. This will light 150,000 old style 100 watt tungsten light bulbs. Not a lot, in the scheme of things. Let's hope we will be able to grow enough food for ourselves as farm land gets covered with solar farms.Physicist Boy

15 mega watts per year of electricity is meaning less. A mega watt is a unit of power, which is the rate of production of energy in millions of joules per second. A joule is a unit of energy. The amount of electrical energy produced in a year will be dependent on how much light energy falls on the solar panels. When it is dark the panels produce nothing, of course. The amount of energy produced increases as the light level increased. !5 mega watts will be the maximum rate of energy production. This will light 150,000 old style 100 watt tungsten light bulbs. Not a lot, in the scheme of things. Let's hope we will be able to grow enough food for ourselves as farm land gets covered with solar farms.

Score: -1

beetawix
12:19am Mon 3 Mar 14

15 megawatts may not be a lot by some people's calculation but it's 15 megawatts more than if you did not have. it.

15 megawatts may not be a lot by some people's calculation but it's 15 megawatts more than if you did not have. it.beetawix

15 megawatts may not be a lot by some people's calculation but it's 15 megawatts more than if you did not have. it.

Score: 5

the optimist
10:40am Mon 3 Mar 14

"This will light 150,000 old style 100 watt tungsten light bulbs"

Or

it will light over 1.5 million new style LED bulbs.

"Let's hope we will be able to grow enough food for ourselves"

I could never see why people turn their back gardens into lawns and patios when they could easily grow food there and reduce their reliance on shops?

"This will light 150,000 old style 100 watt tungsten light bulbs"
Or
it will light over 1.5 million new style LED bulbs.
"Let's hope we will be able to grow enough food for ourselves"
I could never see why people turn their back gardens into lawns and patios when they could easily grow food there and reduce their reliance on shops?the optimist

"This will light 150,000 old style 100 watt tungsten light bulbs"

Or

it will light over 1.5 million new style LED bulbs.

"Let's hope we will be able to grow enough food for ourselves"

I could never see why people turn their back gardens into lawns and patios when they could easily grow food there and reduce their reliance on shops?

Score: 0

Manxter
2:54pm Wed 5 Mar 14

It could be worse; Quadrilla might come calling....

It could be worse; Quadrilla might come calling....Manxter

It could be worse; Quadrilla might come calling....

Score: 0

Localactivist
12:36pm Fri 7 Mar 14

I think you'll find most local environmental campaigners welcome more well-designed solar farms in the area, rather than opposing them.

I think you'll find most local environmental campaigners welcome more well-designed solar farms in the area, rather than opposing them.Localactivist

I think you'll find most local environmental campaigners welcome more well-designed solar farms in the area, rather than opposing them.

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